MBE for ex-Catatonia singer Cerys

Singer and broadcaster Cerys Matthews has landed an MBE for her services to music - and said it was more for the records she had played on air, than the ones she had made herself.

Matthews, formerly the singer of Welsh band Catatonia and now a radio and TV presenter, said it was "incredible" to be recognised for her passion for sharing her love of music.

The 45-year-old said: "I am delighted to receive this honour, and accept it not so much for the music I've made but for the music I've played on my BBC 6 Music show.

"Folk , blues , jazz , traditional music whose authors didn't receive recognition in their lifetimes. I am passionate about sharing music, through writing books, making documentaries and, of course, through the wonder that is radio, to an ever widening audience - and to receive recognition for this is incredible."

Matthews rose to fame in the 1990s with Catatonia whose hits included Road Rage and Mulder And Scully, before going on to accompany Sir Tom Jones on their hit duet Baby It's Cold Outside.

The 45-year-old, who studied to be a psychiatric nurse before her musical success, has also been a participant in ITV series I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!, appearing on the show in 2007.

In recent years she has become known for her work as a broadcaster, landing her weekly 6 Music show in 2008, for which she was named music broadcaster of the year at last year's Radio Academy Awards. She has hosted documentaries for Radio 4 and Radio 2 and appears as an occasional contributor on BBC1's The One Show.

Matthews, who was born in Cardiff but raised mainly in Swansea, has also published a popular book about singalong classics called Hook, Line And Singer and has been a judge for the Dylan Thomas Literary Prize for several years.

The mother of three, who is married to her manager, has also published a pair of books for children.

Bob Shennan, the controller of 6 Music and Radio 2, said: "This is a thoroughly deserved honour for Cerys. She has made a hugely significant contribution to music, both as an accomplished musician and as an exemplary broadcaster on Radio 2, 6 Music and on television."

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